Indian Railways : The LED shift

ALLAHABAD, September 5, 2009: In another step towards energy conservation, Indian Railways has decided to install special types of eco-friendly LED (Light Emitting Diode) based lights in the coaches of trains. Presently, small bulbs, CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights) are used for lighting purpose in the coaches of trains. Though these lights provide efficient lighting but they consume comparatively more energy than the LED lights. Further, they are also burden on the alternator and the batteries of the coaches. Pointedly, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) is a semiconductor device which converts electricity into light. Each diode is about 1/4 inch in diameter and uses about ten milliamperes to operate at about one-tenth of a watt. LEDs are small in size, but can be grouped together for higher intensity applications. LED lights are more rugged and damage-resistant than compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. LED lights don't flicker.
LED based Luminaire are more efficient, compact, quick light up in micro-seconds, ideal for use in applications that are subject to frequent on and off cycle, dimming feature, cool long life, more than 50 thousand hours, shock resistant, maintenance free and having no toxicity. There will be reduction of power consumption by 30-35 per cent on account of implementation of LED based coach lighting scheme. It would also reduce the burden on alternator and batteries of the coach which are being fitted in the lower part of the coach.
Source: The Times of India

stupid idea on stilts: Compulsary voting

The state of the polity requires some comment. I see a lot of nonsense about compulsory voting in the media (with the traditional honourable exception of The Hindu). I would ignore this but for the fact that this is clearly propaganda from the religious right that always benefits from the same. Bit of sociology, but we will not get into it now. Forgetting ideology, any policy that cannot be enforced is stupid. How will the 'government' enforce this when the census is half baked and we have a billion folks around. Do all urban voters (who are not so difficult to enumerate) enfranchised ? If so why do i see pictures of disenfranchised voters holding their EPIC's in my morning paper ? How can every eligible voter be made to turn out ? Clearly this is a red herring. There is no scope for any compulsory anything in a human society. Of course this is to appeal to the Taliban & Rama Sene ! Want Some ?